stocky

adjective

ˈstä-kē How to pronounce stocky (audio)
Definition of stockynext
as in stout
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature the stocky boxer's strength and speed more than make up for his opponent's longer reach

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stocky The stocky species, up to 11 inches long, sometimes out-competes or eats other lizards, including brown anoles. — Rylan Digiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2026 But, Mitchell said, the change doesn’t change there, also with a desire to re-sculpt his stocky 6-foot build. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026 Groundhogs are stocky and part of the squirrel family, and can climb trees, and swim. — Geoff Williams, USA Today, 30 June 2026 Roden-Reynolds pointed to a row of stocky little bugs, each with a white dot on its back. — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for stocky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stocky
  1. stout
  2. sturdy
  3. heavyset
  4. plump
  5. stubby
  6. thickset
  7. husky
Adjective
  • The Bearcats, however, can’t stay down for long as a stout Arlington Bowie squad comes calling.
    — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Some columns are short and stout, while others are tall – the tallest is 13 feet.
    — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of stout
Adjective
  • Despite these headwinds, the labor market has proven sturdy so far this year.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But once assembly was complete the pit was very sturdy, and my wife and I were easily able to carry it between my porch and a crushed-stone section of my backyard that usually holds a firepit, trying it in both places.
    — Noah Kaufman, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • The red car then pulled up in front of the victim’s building, and the suspect, who police described as a heavyset woman dressed all in black, stepped out of the vehicle.
    — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Pictures of Isaiah Harrison from 2024 show a bubbly, heavyset boy with a toothy smile and full cheeks.
    — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of heavyset
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, nano-hyaluronic acid and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid draw in and hold onto moisture, leaving skin feeling plump and supple without weighing it down.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The brothel is huge and painted black, like a plump beetle luxuriating in the sun, and the opulence of its internal decoration is matched by Kate herself.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of plump
Adjective
  • Big ears, stubby legs and an extra-strong butt — Zoo Miami celebrated the newest addition to its animal family Friday.
    — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
  • These mushrooms are instantly recognizable for their fat, puffy shape and stubby stems that are often as wide as—if not wider than—the caps.
    — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of stubby
Adjective
  • The thickset Armand Assante was a phlegmatic Odysseus, but Greta Scacchi, as Penelope—who has so little to say in the poem—became the physical embodiment of anger, and Isabella Rossellini was a teasing Athena.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
  • The passenger door opened and a thickset man with a short beard and mustache got out.
    — Jamie Quatro, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
Definition of thickset
Adjective
  • Her husky voice made Pugh, as an up-and-comer, seem wise beyond her years in breakout roles as a Machiavellian teenage bride in Lady Macbeth and an actor turned spy in The Little Drummer Girl.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Tyler, after a brief recovery period, returned to the recording studio with a huskier, edgier voice.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of husky

Browse Nearby Words

stocks
stocky
stockyard
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Cite this Entry

“Stocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stocky. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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